NHL: Montreal Canadiens Defeat Tampay Lightning 3-2 In Overtime

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Game 74 Review: Canadiens Edge Lightning 3-2 In Overtime (Highlights Video Included)

April 3rd 2009 05:13

Koivu celebrating his game-winning goal

When the usual high that comes after a victory had settled, many “experts” pointed out that the Canadiens hadn't really achieved much by beating the Thrashers last Tuesday especially since four of their goals came on the powerplay. That meant that had the Thrashers stayed a bit more focused and disciplined, the game would have been much tighter. Those pundits also wondered if the TKK line wasn't just a flash in the pan that had perfectly clicked for one game and would return to their underperforming selves for the next especially since Tampa Bay has a much better defensive corps than Atlanta.

The three players proved the critics wrong as Alex Kovalev scored his 20th of the season on the Canadiens' second powerplay of the game halfway through the first period. Alex Tanguay also had an assist on the goal. Although the TKK line didn't score again until Saku Koivu bagged the winner in overtime, they looked dangerous all night long, giving fits to the Lightning defense.

Guillaume Latendresse scored the Habs' second goal early in the third period after a scoreless second. Although the Lightning managed to come back from a 2-0 deficit, the Canadiens probably played one their best games of the year in the defensive zone, limiting the visitors to two shots in the first period, 19 in total. Habs-killers Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis only had one shot each. In the end, Montreal outshot the Lightning 36-19 and it took all of Karri Ramo's poise to make the final scoreline look that close.

Koivu set things right in overtime, scoring with less than two minutes played to give the Canadiens a much-deserved win.

In the end, if it wasn't for Ramo, this game would've been a massacre. The Canadiens are slowly but surely coming around as there are now eight games remaining.

My 3 Stars:
3. Alex Kovalev
2. Karri Ramo
1. Andrei Markov